Search - Sunny Day Real Estate :: Sunny Day Real Estate

Karl V. from LAFAYETTE, IN
Reviewed on 12/10/2009...

Good on the 1st listen.

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

What's a sophmore slump? ****1/2

Janson Kemp | Dallas, TX USA | 11/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sunny Day Real Estate was not a band I had even heard of during the 90's. Unfortunately I listened to many of the bands they inspired before I got the chance to hear any of their albums, and as a result, the band didn't sound as special or as groundbreaking as they would have otherwise. Now, they are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands, and all four of their albums I have considered my favorite at one time or another. Currently, LP2 is their best.



Another reviewer said he liked the album but thought the opening three songs were fairly regular and weak. I could not disagree more. "Friday" and especially "Theo B" are two of the best songs on the album, perhaps in their entire catalogue. They are specifically hard-- loud guitars, howling vocals. Makes me wonder if fans who dismissed "The Rising Tide" as "too rocking" ever really listened to this album. But each song is very detailed, very emotional. They're extremely personal and at times, very religious which is refreshing for rock music. If "Diary" announced the bands existence to the rock world, "The Pink Album" introduced them to SDRE World; emotional, honest, passionate, and joyful. I would say this is the most happy of the 4 albums, due to the overtly pro-Christian lyrics in great songs like "5/4," Jeremy Enigck's testimony. "J'Nuh" basically follows suit. "Rodeo Jones" is great fun and "8," of course, became the band's most commercial song.



That Sunny Day Real Estate had disbanded before the release of this album left many disillusioned fans paying more attention to the band's breakup than the album. In hindsite, all of their albums showcase them in top form, but perhaps especially here. SDRE sound like Beatles being tortured by love, and this is their "Let It Be."



Overall: 9 out of 10."

"Enigk-matic" follow-up

John Carswell | Franklin, TN | 07/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"[...]



Sunny Day Real Estate

LP2; 1995

Sub Pop Records



My Rating: 8/10



Er, sorry about the ridiculous pun upstairs, but, like a tick, it bit me and injected itself before I could do anything about it.



So yeah, LP2. AKA The Pink Album. Very solid yet posthumous follow-up to the band's excellent debut, for a long time this was one of my favorite records, as it combined DC-style musical angularity and sublime melodies to form fascinating songs. Enigk begins developing his "voice as an instrument" approach on this one, with many of the lyrics being otherwise unintelligible or nonsensical but nonetheless beautiful. A strong undercurrent of Enigk's born-again Christianity is represented on songs like "5/4," "Waffle," and "Theo B." The band seems to have captured a period of complete abandon here, a freedom to explore a completely unique sound. Overall, not quite classic like "Diary," but nonetheless a very strong if "Enigk-matic" (somebody hit me please...) second offering.



Tracks:

1. Friday (4/5)

2. Theo B (4.5/5)

3. Red Elephant (4/5)

4. 5/4 (4/5)

5. Waffle (3.5/5)

6. 8 (5/5)

7. Iscarabaid (4/5)

8. J'Nuh (4.5/5)

9. Rodeo Jones (5/5)"